Samba Del Sol Shows and Entertainment

Jo's Bio

Joanna Skroce-Pullen growe up in Croatia, Europe. The city that she called home for two and a half decades have rich history in carnival that goes back a whole century. Growing up Jo attended gymnastic classes on regular basis and being involved in school dance project. Her mother was a head of costume department of National Theater in Rijeka so Jo was spending  many afterschool hours watching how the shows and costumes are made. Her father had his own band playing locally in the summer by the ea and all around Europe in the winter season so she was familiar with life on stage. For the while she joined jazz ballet group but journey took her in to fashion world where she learnt the secrets of the catwalk and fashion industries. The dance was never too far away.

 

Later in her 20's work took her overseas, all around Europe and later to USA, where she meet her Australian husband and moved to Australia.

After finishing two diplomas one in Interior Design and second  one in Building Design while  having two kids, Jo felt that is one more piece of the puzzle missing to have everything complete. It was the dance and carnival, and excitement of standing in front of the audience. She joined Zumba fitness program and became Instructor. Teaching  her own classes, inspiring the people to get moveing and have a better, happier life. With teaching over 300 people over 3 year period Zumba program was great experience as she mastered the art of teaching other people and being good instructor. The opportunities just kept coming so she organized few of the Zumba charity events. Through Zumba she experienced samba dance and got very interested and found the class on the Sunshine Coast held by Gianne Abott and she never looked back.

For a while she attended Gianni’s classes and Sasha’s class (from Rio Rhythmic). Dance becomes everyday routine. She has meet wonderful people through world of dancing.  Traveling to Brisbane become weekly routine to attend Mishel  Finlayson classes. Earlier this year she joined Mishel’s Rio Samba Tour and went all the way to Rio for further development. Two weeks in Rio De Janeiro was like the dream. Attending the samba classes and been thought by samba queens of Rio was really great expirience.

While in Rio she danced in the famous Rio Carnival for Imperio da Tijuca, B division. She was singing her hart out and dancing with other tousands of participants and yes, they won! What a great expirience and thrill. So many people and so much energy. She also got to dance for Mangueira school,division A, one of 12 top schools in Rio. Carnival is taken very seriously, and importance is enormus.

"The best moment was when we got to hold the hands all together with people we did not ever meet but wearing colours of the school felt like we know them already, and then we steped out on the Sambadrom and we could hear 100.000 people cheer, it was absolutley enormus!! And the music stoped and everyone was singing the school song, and we did'n need the music we where the music!!"

As there was no samba group on the Sunshine Coast who portray carnival with the dance and the costumes Jo started her own school, Samba Del Sol. Starting just with the few local performances they grown over the year and the half with hard work and dedication. From performances at local festivals, King of the mountain, Apsara Maleny Music Festival to Midyear show at Sambaliscious samba school Brisbane, Body art festival Edmundi for past two years, 2012 and 2013.as well as  Festuri in 2012.

There are many woderful dancers that influenced Jo in her dancing throught they classes or just workshops; Gianne Abbot, Sasha Mazzeu (Flint), Mishel Finlayson,Sandrinha Barbosa,Silvi Pereira Milans, Amy Mills, Mandy McGill, Chloe Loh, Luanda Lins (Rio de Janeiro)and Sheila Aqino (Rio de Janeiro).

She is always working on growing as dancer and instructor.

Performed at Salsa  Solo 2012 in Brisbane,  with afro samba that Jo worked with Gianne Abott. At the moment Twilight markets are ongoing gig for girls while they are getting prepared to shine on this year Gala Award Sunshine Coast Business women and Brazil Central later in the year.

Jo’s classes are fun, she teaches women to be women to be confident and feel beautiful. Coming to her samba class is not just about learning the samba steps and samba routine it is much more. You learn about importance of carnival in different countries, you learn to dance from the hart, to feel the music and interpret through samba movements. You learn how to make breathtaking costumes and how to wear them well, with the confidence.

 

What students and clients say about Jo:

“Jo, Thank you so much for all you have given me. From your amazing samba moves to the confidence to dance in front of an unknown crowd. You are such a happy, loving person and I hope I can return back to samba after all my travels. Thanks again, T.

 

"Thank you so much for lovely performance last night at our party.! , M. Buderim Medows